Friday, April 29, 2016

Movie review - "Revenge of the Zombies" (1943) **

Follow up to King of the Zombies also has Mantan Moreland as a servant to two men investigating a mad scientist dabbling in zombies. He's played by John Carradine, giving this star power - and it's actually a good cast, with also Veda Ann Borg popping up as Carradine's zombie wife, Gale Storm as a love interest, and 30s Western star Bob Steele as a double agent.

This film is actually full of great ideas but none of them are developed which is frustrating - hero Mauritz Hugo is Borg's sister but they never have much of a relationship; Carradine seems to be working for the Nazis but doesn't seem to be planning anything; Robert Lowery is a hero who doesn't do much; Moreland is given a romance but hardly any screen time to develop it; Moreland has a fleeting encounter with zombies but that's given hardly any screen time too (Moreland fans will get more out of King of the Zombies); the zombies rise up but there's no build up or satisfaction.

The best bits are Bob Steele as a double/triple agent and the fact Carradine's wife is a zombie but turns on him. There is some decent atmosphere. This actually could have been awesome with a bit more care.

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